CyrusOne pledges $1.2 million to Freestone County for public safety; commissioners accept gift

Freestone County commissioners accepted a $1.2 million donation from data-center operator CyrusOne to support public-safety needs, the court announced during its meeting.

Ashley, speaking on behalf of CyrusOne, presented a written letter and said the company intended the $1,200,000 gift "for the benefit of public safety." The court discussed how the funds would be used: the presiding official recounted prior conversations that estimated about $900,000 would be needed to upgrade county radios and handsets so local first responders and the sheriffs office operate on compatible systems, and said $300,000 of the gift would go to Southern Oaks Fire Department to replace an F-550 apparatus. The official also said the remainder would help replace an aging Kenworth truck described in the meeting as roughly 24 years old.

A motion to accept the donation was made, seconded and voiced in favor; the presiding official declared, "Motion carried." The transcript does not include a roll call or a named vote tally.

Why it matters: county officials said the radio upgrade would address an interoperability gap between the sheriffs departments digital channels and other first responders still using analog equipment. Commissioners said improved communications and newer apparatus would benefit multiple volunteer fire departments near the CyrusOne site.

Details and next steps: the CyrusOne representative provided a letter enumerating proposed public-safety items. County officials and fire-department representatives discussed availability for training and emergency planning; Southern Oaks offered to meet with county staff to coordinate. The transcript does not specify a timeline, contract terms or oversight arrangements for spending the gift.